Glasgow 2026: Record Para Sports Program at Commonwealth Games

Paralympic champions are bringing their world-class talent home to compete at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where Para athletes will have more opportunities than ever before.

The games will feature a record 47 Para sport medal events across six disciplines, including Para athletics, Para cycling, Para powerlifting, Para swimming, 3x3 wheelchair basketball, and Para bowls. This marks the most inclusive Commonwealth Games in history, with Para sports fully integrated into the competition.

Four-time Paralympic cycling champion Kadeena Cox will finally make her Commonwealth Games debut for Team England after missing two previous games due to injury. The 30-year-old made history as the first British Paralympian in 32 years to win medals in two different sports at a single Games, claiming gold in both cycling and athletics at Rio 2016.

England's William Ellard, fresh off his world record-breaking gold medal performance at Paris 2024, will compete in swimming at just 20 years old. The S14 200m freestyle Paralympic champion also holds the world record in the 100m freestyle and already has a world title to his name.

Northern Ireland's Bethany Firth, a five-time Paralympic gold medalist and new mother, recently recorded the second fastest time in history in the women's S14 100m backstroke. She'll compete in the 200m freestyle, an event she won at Birmingham 2022.

Scotland's Neil Fachie came out of retirement specifically to compete in front of his home crowd. The five-time Paralympic medalist in Para cycling is already the second most successful athlete in Team Scotland's Commonwealth Games history with five gold medals and one silver.

The Ripple Effect

This historic expansion of Para sports at the Commonwealth Games sends a powerful message about inclusion in elite athletics. By featuring the largest integrated Para sport program ever, Glasgow 2026 is setting a new standard for major international competitions and creating more opportunities for athletes with disabilities to showcase their incredible talents on the world stage.

Young Para athletes across the Commonwealth now have more role models and pathways than ever before.